Game apparatus



April 29 1924. 1 491 961 H. J. MILLER GAME APPARAT-s Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

HELEN J. MrLLnnerBUrrALo, NEW'YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed January 25, 1922. Serial No. 531,817.

T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it know-n that I, HELEN J. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a game apparatus in which different characters or combina.- tions of characters are obtained through the skill of a player by whirling one or more marbles upon the surface of a hand operated disk so that the marble-or marbles, as the case may be, will enter one or another of anannular row of pockets kcorresponding to designating characters on the adjacent parts of the disk.

It is the obj ect of this invention to provide 4a simple apparatus of this character which is instructive and entertaining and which can be adapted to 'give information as to numbers, words, politics, history and other educational matter.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved game apparatus. Figure 2 is a vertical cross sec-y rtionof the same taken on-line 2-2, Fig. l. Figure 3 is a horizontal section ltaken on line 3 3, Figp. i

Similar characters of reference `refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization this game ap paratus comprises a base 10,a disk -11 or bowl which is pivotally mounted on thebase so as to be capable of rotation about a vertical axis, and one or more marbles 12.13 which are adapted to be whirled from the central part of the disk toward the periphery thereof by contact with the upper surface'of the disk while the latter is rotating.

The base preferably hase fiat underside whereby the same may rest Von a table or other support and on its upper` side the saine has an upwardly projecting `pivot pin 111` which comes to a `point and serves as part of the means for pivotally supporting'the Vdisk on the base.

Although the disk may 'be variously constructed the same is preferablyA ofy circularl form and has its upper side dished downwardly or made of bowl shape or concave form so that the same gradually rises from the low part at the center thereof to the high part at themargin of the same. On its central part the disk is provided with an upwardly projecting hub 16 of cylindrical formand this is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin by means of a bushing 17 of hardened metal or other material secured in an opening 18 in the hub and provided on its underside with a downwardly opening socket 19 which receives the upper end of the pivot pin. On its upper end' the bushing is provided wit-ha knob or finger piece 3l whereby the dish may be manipulated so as to cause the saine to spin or turn rapidly on the pivot pin of the base abouta vert-ical axis. At the margin of the disk the same is provided withan elevated rim extending around the circumference `of the same which rim is provided with a plurality of pockets 20 arranged inan annular row. Each of these pockets is open at'the top and has an 'inlet on its inner side Vwhich 'opens toward the axis of rotation-of the disk. The upright walls 21, 22 of each of these inlets are arranged at an angle to a radial line from the axis of the disk and these walls of the several pockets all trend in the same backward direction. The bottom 23 of each pocketis depressed slightly below the adjacent upper surface of the disk so that a marble entering this pocket will be'retained `therein while the disk is turning forwardly.

Upon the vupper annular surface of the rim adjacent to thepockets are arranged suitable designating characters whichhave intersting, entertaining fand instructive `value and which are utilized' fordetermining the winner of-a game when.. playing with this apparatus. Y As an example tif-suitable designations, names, or abbreviations 24C of one or more4 of the several States ofthe `United. State are' placed inthe I"section on'the rim corresponding to each pocket, the 'congressional vote apportioned to eachState is indica-ted at 25 in connection with its naine, and numerals 26 represent-ing the total congressional votes of one or more States in the respectivesections are kassociated with the same.

' In playing this game one or more marbles `or balls may beused and the players can take turns in, spinningthe disk or the same party canfzdo the spinning for the several players,

reviously agreed upon.

s an eXamplerof one way inwliicli' this game may be used, let it be assumed that two playerseach elect kone of the two marbles shown in Fig. 1, theseflinarbles being dis j tinguished from eachother by color, shading or otherwise,jthe same being shown .as black and white A respectively in the drawing.

`When beginning the gaine,y the, marbles are forwardly in the direction of the Yarrow in Fig.` l, so that the diskturns rapidlyfor l yplaced inthe central part of the disk and rthen Ythe lirst player grasps the knob or nger piece by the hand and turns the same a while withoutfurther attention on Vthe part of the operator. Duetothe frictional contact of the upper surface of the Vdisk witlithe marbles a whirling action is iin- .parted tothe same and owing to the' centrifugal force to which the Vmarbles arey I Isubjected,l the saine Agradually travel outwardly and upwardly on the rising con.

cave surface of the disk until they are eventually thrown into one or another of the pockets of the rim.

i* Y selected'by the player determines the count which is placed to the credit of the respective player,Y which count in vthis instance consists of the electoral votes represented by the States in the section corre-- spending to those invwhich the marbles have entered; The marbles after once` entering thefpockets cannot escape therefrom while the disk is turning forwardY or kvvhile ytheV saine is at rest, inasmuch-as theinclined rear wall 21 of each inlet by. its wedging when the diskV ends its forwardjrotation and remains at rest and Vpermits of accurately observinga the result.'Y Y

i .Preparatory to mak'ngthe nekt play the *disk is' first turned backwardly aV shortjdis- 1 tance or in a direction opposite to that .inj dicated bythe arrow which causes ythe in.`

V-clined.YfrontsvallwQ/Z of eachpoeket 'to act asia cam von' the marbletherein .and to eject Vthe vsame inwardly fr oinjtheV pocket to the inner low part of the'Y disk ready for operationy by `the next player. After a predetermined number of innings bythe respective players vthe sucoessivefoounts arev added vto determine the respective scores of the players and the winner'of the game.

It will be noted that at no time is it neces-V.:

` 'sary to .handle any of lthe marbles,V inasmuch asl the marbles are automatically thrown outwardlyfinto the pockets .by centhe like over the cavity and Vpocke'tsin the The particular pockets which are entered lby the marbles' l 'the same' operates. trifugal force/'and alsov ejected Y inwardly therefrom bythe cam actionv of Athe rear walls of the pockets. *lf desire-d; accessv to fr the marbles may be kpositively prevented by v placing aV transparent cover27' of Vglass or Y ineipei disk and securing the saine thereto by screws 28 or other suitable fastenings.

In order to add further interest to the game, one of' the indicating sections may be designated in a manner to denote a loss in the count, for example, in section l0 a star is yshown in connection with the words Presidential veto Vwhich may indicate a negative count equivalent to losing the particular play when the marble enters the pocket of this designation.

Obviously any 'other suitable`V charactersV or system of play may be used which will create interest and entertainment, but in'all Y cases the essence of this invention would be present. Y Y v For the purpose of permitting theturning ofthe disk to be promptly arrested in a convenient manner wheiithe marbles have entered the pockets, a brake device is Vprovided which preferably consists of a brake lever 429, the inner end of which is arranged between the upper side of the base andthe outer end adjacent to the periphery of the disk. This levermay kbe held in lplace by any suitable means, for instance,

by providing` its inner part with a lengi- Vis'arrangeol loosely between the disk Vand base, sothat the bushing of the disk rests solely on the pivotpin of the base and can turn VfreelyV without interference from the Vbrake lever. 1 When, howeveigit isdes'ired ltostop vthe rotation of the disk, the outer end of the lever is depressed whichcauses the intermediate part'thereof to turn on thebase. as a fulcrumandthe inner end of the same to lift the disk from the pivot'pin, Ythereby:applying increased4V frictional re- Y, sistance'to the disk and quickly bringing "the same to a state of rest.

yparts of the apparatus3 eXceptfthe glass cover, are preferablyl made of metal, al-

though any other suitable material vmay be Y used... Y

In order to permit of'starting the whirlingaetion of the marbles promptly when spinning the disk orbowl 'the hub 16 is provided on its periphery Awith vertical Vservrations orl coirugations 32, as shownV in Vtudinal slot or elongated opening 30 which The several f Fig. l, which Vtakehold of the marbles and cause them to effect their initial movement withY the Vdisk beforebeing thrown away frein the sameby centrifugal force.

`This game deviceis not only'veryenterv'taining but the Vsaine is also very attractive andainusingrowing to the mannerin which I claim asiny invention: Y 1.y A gaine apparatus comprising a' base,

ythe inner side of `which is provided with a plurality of pockets, each of 'whichV has an etY inlet on its inner side the walls of whichv are arranged at an angle to ay radial line from the axis of rotation of the disk.

2. A game apparatus comprising a base having an upwardly projecting'pivot, a disk adapted to rotate about a vertical axis and provided on its marginal rim Vwith an annular row of inwardly opening pockets and provided centrally on its underside with a downwardly opening socket which receives said pivot pin, a marble adapted to be whirled by contact with the upper surface of the disk into one or another of said pockets, and a brake for arresting the rotation of said disk consisting of a lever having its inner part interposed between the underside of said disk and the upper side of said base.

3. A game apparatus comprising a base having an upwardly projecting pivot, a disk adapted to rotate about a vertical axis and provided on its marginal rim with an annular row of inwardly opening pockets and provided centrally on its underside with a downwardly opening socket which receives said pivot pin, a marble adapted to be whirled by contact with the upper surface of the disk into one or another of said pookets, and a brake for arresting the rotation of said disk consistingrof a lever having its inner 'part' interposed between the underside of said disk and the upper side of said base, and provided with an opening which receives said pivot pin. v

4. A game apparatus comprising a base, a disk adapted to turn about a vertical axis on said base and having a dished upper surface which is low at the center of the disk and high at the margin thereof and having a marginal rim which projects upwardly from the disk and has a circumferential row of pockets which have inlets opening toward the axis of the disk, and a marble adapted to be whirled byy contact with the upper surface of the disk into one or another of the ypockets thereof, the bottoms of said pockets being depressed below the adjacent surface of the disk, and the inlet of each pocket having its walls arranged at an angle to a radial line from the axis of the disk.

HELEN J. MILLER. 

